The federal government plans to stockpile 75 million doses of antiviral drugs and 20 million doses of an experimental vaccine to help combat a potential bird flu pandemic. The plan is expected to be released later today, but The New York Times was briefed on the essential outlines of the government's response. In addition, the government has outlined plans to have police and the National Guard maintain public order, with help from the military as needed. And businesses are being encouraged to develop plans that would factor a 40 percent absenteeism rate during successive waves of bird flu outbreaks.
- here's the New York Times report on the plan
ALSO: Shares of Vical, meanwhile, soared 31 percent after the drug developer announced promising results from an animal study of its experimental bird flu vaccine. The vaccine completely protected mice and ferrets exposed to the virus. Investors were particularly enthused by signs that the vaccine could work against multiple strains of the virus. Any human pandemic requires a viral mutation that can significantly alter the way it works, and change its response to more narrowly targeted therapeutics. Report